US, UK, France, Germany Echo Alarm About Chinese Activities Off Eastern Taiwan
The United States, Britain, France and Germany raised the alarm on Wednesday over recent Chinese activities off the east coast of Taiwan, where China has mounted Coast Guard patrols, saying they threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation.China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, sent Coast Guard ships earlier in June into the waters off the island's east coast for what it called a "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation…
Welcome to the U.S. Shipping Merry-Go-Round
Taking your children or grandchildren for a ride on the Merry-Go Round may be a pleasant past memory. With that memory, we are asking to think about your choice of the best horse as you board the platform. A decision resting upon what you want out of the ride. Now consider that selection to the current state of US shipbuilding.Selecting the outside row of “jumpers” provides the greatest thrill as they move the fastest.
Suderman & Young Gets New Rapport 3000 Escort Tug
Master Boat Builders delivered Saturn for Suderman & Young Towing Company, the first vessel in a new series of Rapport 3000 escort tugs. Saturn is the first of four vessels in this series.Saturn continues to raise the bar in escort tug capability. Measuring 98 x 43 ft. with a bollard pull capacity of more than 90 metric tons, the vessel is powered by two engines producing a combined 7,000 hp and is capable of approximately 13 knots.
Physical Crude Cargoes Drop as Middle Eastern Supply Rises
Physical crude oil cargoes are selling at steep discounts around the world, changing trade flows as markets come under pressure from fast-rising Middle Eastern supply with Iran set to boost sales following a temporary reprieve from U.S. sanctions.The discounts, the biggest in years in some cases, follow the signing of a 60-day interim deal between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending the war that began on February 28.
Germany Scraps Frigate Program, Rheinmetall Shares Plummet
Germany scrapped a landmark frigate programme on Wednesday following delays and expected cost overruns, sending shares in the country's top defence firm Rheinmetall — which was tipped to win the contract — sharply lower.Plans to build six F126 frigates had been mired in trouble for a while, with Berlin weighing whether to hand the contract to Rheinmetall's NVL division after initial supplier, Dutch group Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding…
Ships Begin Sailing Through Hormuz According to UN Evacuation Plan
Ships have begun sailing through the Strait of Hormuz under a new scheme by the U.N.'s shipping agency to evacuate vessels trapped there by the conflict, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.The initiative, which has taken months to conclude, will enable hundreds of ships with some 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf to sail through Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization said on Tuesday."Ships have already begun to pass under the plan…
MSC Cruises, MEYER WERFT Continue Negotiations for Four Cruise Ships
MSC Cruises and MEYER WERFT have issued the following joint statement regarding the current status of negotiations on the major contract for MEYER WERFT to build four next-generation cruise ships, plus two options:“In December 2025, MEYER WERFT and MSC Cruises announced a letter of intent for the construction of four innovative cruise ships, plus two options, at MEYER WERFT. In the meantime, concrete…
Wintermar Takes Full Control of Fast Offshore Supply
Indonesian offshore vessel operator PT Wintermar Offshore Marine (WINS) has acquired the remaining stakes in Singapore-based Fast Offshore Supply (FOS) and its subsidiary PT Fast Offshore Indonesia (FOI), gaining full control of both companies and expanding into the building and operation of aluminium crew transfer vessels (CTVs).WINS acquired the remaining 52.5% shareholding in FOS and the remaining 49% stake in FOI…
ClassNK Receives Authorization to Conduct Surveys on French-Flagged Vessels
ClassNK announced that it has earned authorization from the French Government (Directorate general for Maritime affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture) to carry out surveys for French flagged vessels.With this authorization, ClassNK is now able to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates for French flagged vessels on behalf of the French Government, in accordance with the requirements of international conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL, and the International Convention on Load Lines.
Singapore Maritime Foundation Launches 2026 MaritimeONE Case Summit Challenges
Now in its 7th edition, the 2026 MaritimeONE Case Summit was launched by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) in partnership with industry sponsors AET, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Petredec Global and Pacific International Lines (PIL).Through this annual case competition, students from Singapore's universities and polytechnics will apply their knowledge to respond to some of the maritime industry's most pressing challenges…
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions Becomes Nord Gas Solutions
The former Wärtsilä Gas Solutions business has been rebranded as Nord Gas Solutions following its acquisition by Mutares SE & Co.The company said it would continue to provide gas solutions for the marine, biogas and energy sectors while seeking to strengthen its global market presence and further develop its capabilities in innovation and digitalisation under new ownership."With this new identity,…
By the Numbers: Maritime Safety in 2026 — Fewer Losses, Bigger Risks
The maritime industry continues to improve its safety record, but the challenges confronting shipowners, operators, insurers and regulators have never been more complex.According to Allianz Commercial's Safety and Shipping Review 2026, global shipping losses remain near historic lows, yet a new era of geopolitical conflict, cyber-enabled crime, aging fleets, alternative fuels, cargo fires and supply chain disruption is reshaping risk across the maritime sector.
DeepOcean Installs Inter-Array Cables at Germany's Nordseecluster A
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has completed the installation and testing of all inter-array cables at the Nordseecluster A offshore wind farm in Germany.DeepOcean's contract included project management and engineering, the provision of cable protection systems, offshore preparatory works, pre-installation cable route surveys, transport and installation of inter-array cables, cable pull-in and cable burial activities.Cable-laying operations began in January 2026…
MODEC to Supply Mooring System for Coral Norte FLNG off Mozambique
Japanese offshore services company MODEC has secured a contract to supply a SOFEC internal turret mooring system for the Coral Norte floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project offshore Mozambique, being developed by Eni and its partners.MODEC is collaborating with the Technip Energies-JGC joint venture on the project to support integration and execution of the mooring system.The Coral Norte project is being developed by Eni together with CNPC…
Yinson Production Names FSO for Murphy's Lac Da Vang Project off Vietnam
Yinson Production has held a naming ceremony for the floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit PTSC Lac Da Vang ahead of the vessel's deployment to the Lac Da Vang oil project offshore Vietnam.The FSO vessel has been contracted to Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, to provide storage and offloading services for the Lac Da Vang field in Block 15-1/05 offshore…
Samsung Heavy Orders LNG Carrier Tanks from GTT
GTT has secured an order from the shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, on behalf of an American ship-owner.GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the vessels, each offering a total capacity of 174,000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2029.
Markets: When Will Container Shipping Return to "Normal"
"Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, significant uncertainty will remain and continue to shape market outcomes,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Key uncertainties include whether the US/Iran agreement will hold, when the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) will fully reopen, whether ships can return to normal Suez Canal routings, and how US import tariffs will evolve once the current 10% emergency tariffs expire at the end of July.To reflect this…
Nord Stream 2 Challenges EU's Russian Gas Phase-Out in Court
The owner of the Gazprom-controlled Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is suing the European Union in the bloc's second-highest court, seeking to annul the EU's binding phase-out of gas imports from Russia, a public document showed.The EU approved a law this year to halt all Russian gas imports by late 2027, severing ties with Europe's former top supplier in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The…
Oman Opens Alternative Hormuz Lanes as Shipping Recovery Continues
Oman said it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping without imposing any tolls and had designated two temporary routes north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate the safe passage of vessels departing the region.In coordination with the International Maritime Organization, Oman established temporary maritime corridors to help ships leave the area safely amid heightened security risks.The Strait of Hormuz…
